Hall of Fame jockey Turcotte to appear in Doylestown
Ron Turcotte rode Secretariat to Triple Crown in 1978, later suffered devastating fall that left him a paraplegic.
Hall of Fame jockey Ron Turcotte, who rode Secretariat to the Triple Crown 40 years ago and later became a paraplegic after a tragic fall in a race in 1978, will sign autographs Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at My Derby in Doylestown.
Turcotte, 71, is making appearances in connection with the release of a Canadian documentary about his life, titled "Secretariat's Jockey, Ron Turcotte," as well as the 40th anniversary of Secretariat's run to the Triple Crown, the first in 25 years.
In '72 and '73, Turcotte became the first jockey since 1902 to win back-to-back Kentucky Derbys and was the leading stakes-winning jockey in North America both years.
After a career of more than 20,000 races, he became a paraplegic in July 1978 when he fell from his horse, Flag of Leyte Gulf, at the start of a race at Belmont Park. He has since become an advocate for injured jockeys worldwide.
My Derby is located within the Shops of Serendipity, 33 S. Main St. in Doylestown. For information, call the shop at 484-798-4503.